Illustration of healthy kidneys with cannabis leaves, symbolizing the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis compounds.

Can Cannabis Compounds Protect Your Kidneys? The Latest Research on 2-AG and Renal Health

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New studies suggest a link between a cannabis-derived compound and improved kidney function, opening doors to potential treatments for acute kidney injury."

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious medical condition associated with a high risk of complications and death. One of the major causes of AKI is ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which occurs when blood supply to the kidneys is interrupted and then restored. This process can damage kidney tissues and impair their function. Current treatments for AKI are limited, highlighting the urgent need for new and effective therapies.

Recent research has focused on the role of the endocannabinoid (EC) system in protecting against renal IRI. The EC system is a complex network of receptors and signaling molecules that help regulate various physiological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell survival. Key components of this system include cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and endocannabinoids like anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

A groundbreaking study published in "Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research" investigated the effects of increasing renal 2-AG levels in a mouse model of acute kidney injury. The findings suggest that elevating 2-AG levels can improve kidney function and reduce damage associated with IRI. This article explores the implications of this research and the potential of cannabis compounds in treating kidney disease.

Unlocking the Potential of 2-AG: How Does It Impact Kidney Injury?

Illustration of healthy kidneys with cannabis leaves, symbolizing the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis compounds.

The study, led by Hamid Moradi and colleagues, sought to understand the role of the endocannabinoid system, particularly 2-AG, in renal IRI. Renal ischemia was induced in male mice by clamping the kidney pedicles for 30 minutes, followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. To increase 2-AG levels, some mice were pretreated with JZL184, a compound that inhibits the breakdown of 2-AG, 30 minutes before inducing IRI. The researchers then measured serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, assessed renal tubular damage, and analyzed the renal content of endocannabinoids and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

The results revealed that renal IRI was associated with several negative effects on kidney function, including:

Significantly increased serum BUN and creatinine levels, indicating impaired kidney function.
Increased tubular damage score, reflecting structural damage to kidney tubules.
Elevated expression of renal markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Increased renal 2-AG content, suggesting a natural response to injury.

However, pretreatment with JZL184, which boosted renal 2-AG content, led to some improvements. Specifically, mice treated with JZL184 showed improved serum BUN and creatinine levels, as well as reduced tubular damage scores. Interestingly, the renal expression of inflammation and oxidative stress markers remained unchanged, indicating that 2-AG's protective effects might operate through mechanisms other than reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cannabis Compounds in Kidney Treatment

This research marks a significant step forward in understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in kidney health. While the study focused on a mouse model, the findings suggest that 2-AG could be a potential therapeutic target for acute kidney injury. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms responsible for the observed effects and to determine the potential value of 2-AG in human treatment. As the scientific community continues to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds, this study offers new hope for improving renal function and treating kidney disease.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the role of 2-AG in protecting kidneys from injury?

The research indicates that 2-AG, a cannabis-derived compound, plays a protective role against acute kidney injury (AKI), specifically against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The study showed that increasing 2-AG levels in mice, through the use of JZL184, led to improvements in kidney function, including reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and reduced tubular damage. This suggests that 2-AG can help mitigate the negative effects of IRI, a major cause of AKI. However, the exact mechanisms are still under investigation, but appear to be distinct from reducing inflammation or oxidative stress.

What is ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and why is it relevant to kidney health?

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a type of damage that occurs when blood supply to an organ, like the kidneys, is interrupted (ischemia) and then restored (reperfusion). This process can cause significant damage to the kidney tissues, impairing their function. IRI is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), a serious medical condition associated with high risk of complications and death. The relevance of IRI to kidney health highlights the urgent need for effective therapies to protect the kidneys from this type of damage.

How does the endocannabinoid (EC) system, including 2-AG, work to affect kidney function?

The endocannabinoid (EC) system is a complex network within the body that regulates various physiological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell survival. It includes cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) and endocannabinoids like anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). In the context of kidney health, the EC system, particularly 2-AG, seems to play a protective role against acute kidney injury (AKI) and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The study using mice showed that increasing 2-AG levels improved kidney function and reduced damage. The specific mechanisms through which 2-AG exerts its protective effects are still being studied, but it appears to be independent of reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

What were the key findings of the study on 2-AG and kidney injury in mice?

The study, led by Hamid Moradi and colleagues, revealed several key findings regarding the effects of 2-AG on kidney function in a mouse model of acute kidney injury. The research found that ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) significantly increased serum BUN and creatinine levels (indicating impaired kidney function), increased tubular damage scores, and elevated markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. However, when mice were pretreated with JZL184 to boost renal 2-AG content, there was an improvement in serum BUN and creatinine levels, as well as reduced tubular damage scores. Interestingly, the renal expression of inflammation and oxidative stress markers remained unchanged, suggesting a different mechanism for 2-AG's protective effects.

What are the implications of this research for potential treatments of kidney disease?

The research suggests that 2-AG could be a potential therapeutic target for acute kidney injury (AKI). The findings indicate that increasing 2-AG levels can improve kidney function and reduce damage associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). This opens doors to exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds in treating kidney disease. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and to determine the potential value of 2-AG in human treatment. While the research is in a mouse model, the results offer new hope for improving renal function and treating kidney disease, especially for conditions like AKI where current treatments are limited.